A 142-foot long cross-border tunnel – the third in the last year – has been discovered just east of Calexico.
The border tunnel was discovered by a Border Patrol agent as the agent was performing routine patrol of the border on Thursday morning.
The agent stumbled on to a depression in some soil about 2 miles east of Calexico, which is 120 miles east of San Diego. As the agent approached the spot, the soil began to give way, exposing an 18-inch hole, according to a news release from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Lumber and electrical wiring was then spotted inside the tunnel, indicating it was an operational tunnel.
Investigators determined the tunnel, which is 3 feet wide, originated about 60 feet south of the U.S.-Mexico border and travels nearly 80 feet into the United States.
Border Patrol agents have not identified any suspects.
This is the third cross-border tunnel uncovered in the area around El Centro in the past year.
Local
Just three weeks ago, another border tunnel, this one spanning 416 yards, was found in Calexico. That tunnel was attached to a home, which smugglers used for the sole purpose of smuggling drugs.
